Solids handling hydro-finn pump

ABSTRACT

A flowable materials pump for moving flowable materials includes a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends; an impeller assembly including an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to the pump housing through which material flows through and around the impeller; and an impeller drive mechanism extending through the housing wall to and drivably connected to the impeller. The laterally position of the impeller drive mechanism relative to the pump housing permits stacking of the flowable materials pumps in linear series and in mutual fluid communication, so that the desired level of pumping force can be established incrementally by selecting the number of the pumps needed for a given application.

FILING HISTORY

This application continues from provisional patent application No. 61/009,375, filed on Dec. 28, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of pumps for moving flowable materials including liquids and solids. More specifically the present invention relates to a flowable materials pump for moving flowable materials including an impeller rotatably mounted within a substantially tubular housing through which material flows around the impeller, the housing having first and second housing longitudinal open ends and an outwardly bowed middle segment as shown in the attached drawings. The impeller assembly is mounted on mounting flanges extending radially between the impeller assembly and the housing wall. The impeller is hydraulically powered and the hydraulic fluid is delivered and exits through delivery and discharge tubes or pipes contained within the mounting flanges to minimize the tube profile across the flow path. The delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with housing wall openings having exterior hydraulic line connector elements joined to respective delivery and discharge hydraulic lines of a hydraulic system with a separate hydraulic system pump. Material propelling blades extend radially from the impeller assembly into the material flow path between the impeller assembly and the housing wall, and longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges.

The opposing first and second longitudinal open ends of the housing are fitted with connection flange structures, so that the pump can be mounted in fluid communication with inflow and outflow materials pipes or can be stacked and connected in longitudinal series with one or several other such pumps for increased pumping power. As a result, the pumping power or force for any particular application can be selected by providing the particular number of pumps needed to create that power or force.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior flowable materials and such as solids pumps have drive shafts protruding from one or both longitudinal ends which do not permit pump stacking. As a result, prior pumps have to be provided individually in exactly the size and power needed for each given job, so that the expense of producing many different pump sizes is required. Some of these prior pumps can be very large and expensive to transport, and suitable for only a very limited variety of jobs.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a flowable materials pump which is stackable so that individual pumps can be relatively small and light in weight if desired and so that any number can be placed in series to provide just the pumping force and power needed for any given job, and a number can be kept on site for a variety of different jobs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a flowable materials pump which is easy and inexpensive transport, handle and move into and out of operational position, and to store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.

A flowable materials pump for moving flowable materials, including a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends; an impeller assembly including an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to the pump housing through which material flows through and around the impeller; and an impeller drive mechanism extending through the housing wall to and drivably connected to the impeller.

The tubular pump housing preferably has an outwardly bowed housing segment surrounding the impeller for providing an increased flow passing cross-sectional area adjacent to the impeller to compensate for loss of flow passing cross-sectional area caused by the impeller. The impeller drive mechanism preferably includes an impeller hydraulic motor and the given impeller preferably is hydraulically powered and hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system pump is delivered and exits through the hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes. The impeller assembly preferably is mounted on at least one mounting flange extending radially between the impeller assembly and the housing wall.

The flowable material pump preferably additionally includes hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes contained within the at least one mounting flange so that the flow profile of each of the fluid delivery and discharge tubes across the flow path is minimized. The pump preferably additionally includes housing wall openings; where the delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with a hydraulic system through housing wall openings. The pump preferably additionally includes material propelling blades extending radially from the impeller assembly into the material flow path between the impeller and the housing wall, and extending longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges. Each flowable material pump preferably additionally includes connection flange structures; where the opposing housing longitudinal open ends are fitted with the connection flange structures, so that the pump can be mounted in fluid communication with one of: inflow and outflow materials pipes, and other the pumps as a stack in mutual fluid communication for multiplying pumping power to a level required for a given pumping application.

A pump assembly for moving flowable materials, including a first flowable material pump including a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends, an impeller assembly including an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to the pump housing through which material flows through and around the impeller, and impeller drive mechanism extending through the housing wall to and drivably connected to the impeller; and a second flowable material pump including a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends, an impeller assembly including an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to the pump housing through which material flows through and around the impeller, and impeller drive mechanism extending through the housing wall to and drivably connected to the impeller, the second housing longitudinal open end of the first flowable material pump being mounted to the first housing longitudinal open end of the second flowable material pump so that the first flowable material pump and the second flowable material pump are in mutual fluid communication and flowable material is propelled through the first flowable material pump and into and through the second flowable material pump.

Each tubular pump housing preferably has an outwardly bowed housing segment surrounding the corresponding the impeller for providing an increased flow passing cross-sectional area adjacent to the impeller to compensate for loss of flow passing cross-sectional area caused by the impeller. Each impeller assembly preferably is mounted on at least one mounting flange extending radially between the corresponding the impeller assembly and housing wall. The impeller drive mechanism preferably includes an impeller hydraulic motor and the given impeller is hydraulically powered and hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system pump is delivered and exits through the hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes; where each flowable material pump additionally includes hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes contained within the at least one mounting flange so that the flow profile of each of the fluid delivery and discharge tubes across the flow path is minimized.

Each flowable material pump preferably additionally includes housing wall openings; where the given delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with a hydraulic system through housing wall openings. Each flowable material pump preferably additionally includes material propelling blades extending radially from the impeller assembly into the material flow path between the impeller and the housing wall, and extending longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges. Each flowable material pump preferably additionally includes connection flange structures; where the opposing housing longitudinal open ends are fitted with the connection flange structures, so that the pump can be mounted in fluid communication with one of: inflow and outflow materials pipes, and other the pumps as a stack in mutual fluid communication for multiplying pumping power to a level required for a given pumping application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the present pump, with connection flange structures at each end.

FIG. 1A is a broken away edge cross-sectional view of one of the mounting flanges containing either a hydraulic delivery or discharge tube.

FIG. 2 is a view as in FIG. 1 with the hydraulic delivery and discharge tubes exposed and one of the connection flange structures omitted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection flange structure for mounting at the pump entry end.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection flange structure for mounting at the pump exit end.

FIG. 5 is an edge cross-sectional view of one of the mounting flanges, containing both the hydraulic delivery and discharge tubes.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting flange taken along its length and showing either the hydraulic delivery or discharge tube.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the present pumps of the preferred embodiment stacked in mutual fluid communication for sequentially passing flowable material to gain twice the pumping force of a single pump, so that the pumps become modular.

Prior Art FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a prior art pump having an axial impeller drive shaft, preventing the stacking as shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.

First Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a flowable materials pump 10 for moving flowable materials M is disclosed including an impeller 22 rotatably mounted within a substantially tubular housing 40 through which material M flows around the impeller 22, the housing 40 having first and second housing longitudinal open ends 44 and 46, respectively, an outwardly bowed middle segment 42. The impeller assembly 20 is mounted on mounting flanges 30 extending radially between the impeller assembly 20 and the housing wall 42. The impeller 22 is hydraulically powered and the hydraulic fluid is delivered and exits through delivery and discharge tubes 32 and 34 or pipes contained within the mounting flanges 30 to minimize and taper the tube 32 profile across the flow path. The delivery and discharge tubes 32 and 34 are in fluid communication with housing wall openings 48 having exterior hydraulic line connector elements 36 joined to respective delivery and discharge hydraulic lines L of a hydraulic system S with a separate hydraulic system pump (not shown). Material propelling blades 24 extend radially from the impeller assembly 20 into the material flow path between the impeller assembly 20 and the housing wall 42, and longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges 30.

The opposing first and second longitudinal open ends 44 and 46 of the housing 40 are fitted with connection flange structures CFS, so that the pump 10 can be mounted in fluid communication with inflow and outflow materials pipes (not shown) or can be stacked and connected in longitudinal series with one or several other such pumps 10 for increased pumping power. As a result, the pumping power or force needed for any particular application can be selected by providing the particular number of pumps 10 needed to create that power or force.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended. 

1. A flowable materials pump for moving flowable materials, comprising: a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends; an impeller assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to said pump housing through which material flows through and around said impeller; and impeller drive means extending through said housing wall to and drivably connected to said impeller.
 2. The pump of claim 1, wherein said tubular pump housing has an outwardly bowed housing segment surrounding said impeller for providing an increased flow passing cross-sectional area adjacent to said impeller to compensate for loss of flow passing cross-sectional area caused by said impeller.
 3. The pump of claim 1, wherein said impeller drive means comprises an impeller hydraulic motor and wherein the given said impeller is hydraulically powered and hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system pump is delivered and exits through said hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes.
 4. The pump of claim 3, wherein said impeller assembly is mounted on at least one mounting flange extending radially between said impeller assembly and said housing wall.
 5. The pump of claim 4, wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes contained within said at least one mounting flange such that the flow profile of each of said fluid delivery and discharge tubes across the flow path is minimized.
 6. The pump of claim 5, additionally comprising housing wall openings; wherein said delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with a hydraulic system through housing wall openings.
 7. The pump of claim 5, additionally comprising material propelling blades extending radially from said impeller assembly into the material flow path between said impeller and said housing wall, and extending longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges.
 8. The pump of claim 4, wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprising connection flange structures; wherein said opposing housing longitudinal open ends are fitted with said connection flange structures, such that said pump can be mounted in fluid communication with one of: inflow and outflow materials pipes, and other said pumps as a stack in mutual fluid communication for multiplying pumping power to a level required for a given pumping application.
 9. A pump assembly for moving flowable materials, comprising: a first flowable material pump comprising a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends, an impeller assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to said pump housing through which material flows through and around said impeller, and impeller drive means extending through said housing wall to and drivably connected to said impeller; and a second flowable material pump comprising a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends, an impeller assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to said pump housing through which material flows through and around said impeller, and impeller drive means extending through said housing wall to and drivably connected to said impeller, said second housing longitudinal open end of said first flowable material pump being mounted to said first housing longitudinal open end of said second flowable material pump such that said first flowable material pump and said second flowable material pump are in mutual fluid communication and flowable material is propelled through said first flowable material pump and into and through said second flowable material pump.
 10. The pump assembly of claim 9, wherein each said tubular pump housing has an outwardly bowed housing segment surrounding the corresponding said impeller for providing an increased flow passing cross-sectional area adjacent to said impeller to compensate for loss of flow passing cross-sectional area caused by said impeller.
 11. The pump of claim 9, wherein each said impeller assembly is mounted on at least one mounting flange extending radially between the corresponding said impeller assembly and housing wall.
 12. The pump of claim 11, wherein said impeller drive means comprises an impeller hydraulic motor and wherein the given said impeller is hydraulically powered and hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system pump is delivered and exits through said hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes; wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes contained within said at least one mounting flange such that the flow profile of each of said fluid delivery and discharge tubes across the flow path is minimized.
 13. The pump of claim 12, wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises housing wall openings; wherein the given said delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with a hydraulic system through housing wall openings.
 14. The pump of claim 12, wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises material propelling blades extending radially from the impeller assembly into said material flow path between said impeller and said housing wall, and extending longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges.
 15. The pump of claim 12, wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprising connection flange structures; wherein said opposing housing longitudinal open ends are fitted with said connection flange structures, such that said pump can be mounted in fluid communication with one of: inflow and outflow materials pipes, and other said pumps as a stack in mutual fluid communication for multiplying pumping power to a level required for a given pumping application. 